Vehicle dash



1927' E. R. GURNEY June 21 VEHICLE DASH Filed Dec. 19. 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 1 VEHICLE DASH Filed D c. 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING R. G'UBNE Y, OF BEEGHHUBST, YORK, ASSIGNOB TO HFTEBNATIONAL MOTOROOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01! DELAWARE.

VEHICLE DASH.

Application filed December 19, 1924. Serial 1T0. 756,870.

In the copendin application Serial No. 747,841 filed Novem er 4, 1924,there is disclosed a metallic vehicle dash adapted to be directlysupported on the vehicle frame and to serve as a support for otherelements of the vehicle such as the radiator support disclosed inco-pending application Serial No. 736,007, filed September 5, 1924. Inthe construction according to the latter application banks of radiatortubes are sup orted from the vehicle frame upon either side of a. ductwhich direct air from a fan disposed in 0 erative osition in proximityto the flyeel of t e motor upwardly and outwardly through the spacedbanks of radiator tubes. The inlet for the air was formed in the fanhousing according to the previous proposal which, from the nature of theconstruction, was close to the roadway. It has been found in practicethat such disposition of the air inlet permitted the suction by the fanof great quantities of dust, leaves and other foreign matter into theair duct from whence it had to be expelled through the banks of radiatortubes with constant clogging of the interstices with foreign matter.Furthermore the dash being of metal and preferably cast aluminium becamequickly eated up, due to its proximity to the motor, to the manifestdiscomfort of the driver and other occupants of the vehicle. The resentinvention has for its object to provi e inlet means for the cooling airwhich shall be disposed where the air is relatively free from' dust andforeign matter. To this end a passage is formed in the wall of the dashwhich is open at its upper end at approximately the uppermost portion ofthe dash and communicates at its other end with the fan housing which isotherwise provided with no air inlet. It is also an ob ect of theinvention to insulate to a degree the drivers cab or interior of thevehicle from the motor in the interest of comfort. To this end the frontwall of the dash may be formed as a double wall havin an appreciable airspace therebetween whic may serve as the air intake passage to the fanhousing and provide a live air space between the motor and the interiorof the vehicle.

A further object of the invention contemplates the control of the volumeof air en tering the fan housing to the end that the temperature of theradiator may be controlled most efiiciently. Accordingly the upper endof the air passage in the dash is provided with a plurality of louvresactuated from the interior of the dash to control the volume of airentering the passage.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, inwhich:

Fi re 1 is a view in side elevation showing t e dash accordin to thepresent invention and the manner 1n which the cooling means for theradiator is associated therewith, parts being broken away in theinterest of clearness.

Figure 2 is a view of the dash looking from the rear.

Referrin first to Figure 2, the dash which is indicate as a whole at ais adapted to be supported directly upon the side frame members 6 of thechassis as in co-pendlng application No. 747,841. Provision is made inthe dash for the passage of the steering post as at a and the su port ofthe brake clutch pedals and the li e as indicated in eneral at a.Centrally of the dash the cor thereof is offset as at a to provideclearance for the propeller shaft 0 of the vehicle. While various typesof radiators may be used on motor vehicles carrying a dash according tothe present invention that disclosed in the drawings is of the typeshown and described in co-pending applications Ser. No. 736,007 filedSeptember 5, 1924 wherein the lower tanks d are supported by yieldingnon-metallic connections directly from the chassis side frame members.An up er tank (1' is su ported through a simi ar connection direct yfrom the dash as at e. The upper and lower tanks are in communicationthrough banks of radiator tubes disposed upon either side of thevehicle, fragmentary portions of which are indicated at d drespectively. Between the banks of radiator tubes there is disposed anupper duct portion f depending from the upper tank d and a lower ductportion f secured to the fan housing 9. The upper and lower ductsections may be connected by yielding connections f Since, in the oldconstruction, the fan inlet was disposed so close to the roadwayconsiderable dust and foreign matter was sucked up 0d the road andforced into the radiators. The present invention contemplates theincorporation of an inlet duct communieating with the atmosphere at apoint where the air is comparatively free from foreign matter andconductin such relatively clear air to the inlet or faniousing. In theillustrated embodiment such an inlet duct is shown as incorporated inthe front wall of the dash althou h it will be apparent that anindependent i iuct mi ht be provided for this assage. Rearwardly of thefront wall a o the dash there is formed a second wall a to form an airspace or passa e a communicating at its lowermost portion direct- 1 intothe upper part of the fan housing tlirough a slot a and through openingsat upon either side of the propeller shaft into an annular chamber asurroundin the propeller shaft and communicating with the air inlet f ofthe fan housing.

e passa e a is open in the uppermost part thereo to the atmospherethrough a series of air entrances a disposed about the top of the dash.Each of the air entrances may be adapted to be controlled b a plurahtyof louvres i capable of ad ustment from the dash. In the preferredembodi ment some or all of the shutters may be carried upon whatconstitutes one arm of levers z" pivotally mounted in the top of thedash and connected to a rod i which may be rawn rearwardly to cause theopening of the shutters by turning a nut i upon the threaded endthereof. A spring a" may be rovided having a tendency to constantly rawthe rod forwardly and close the louvres.

At the rear edge the dash may be formed with a groove a; for thereception of a cushion of yieldin non-metallic material j upon which theb y it rests as in the prior application.

1,ase,oea

By the provision of a double walled dash a live air space is affordedbetween the interior of the body and the cushion which serves toinsulate the interior from the engine space and prevent the passage ofheat therebetween to the added comfort of the operator and passengers inthe vehicle. By opening the passage to the atmosphere in the uppermostpart ofthe dash and substantially closing the lowermost part against theadmission of air relatively clear air is taken in to the fan.

Various modifications may be made in the shape anddocation of the airintake passage communicating with the fan housing as well as in themanner of controllin the admission of air thereto and no limitation isintended by the foregoing description or illustrations except asindicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the radiator and fan havinga housing, a unitary dash, means mounting the main brace of the radiatorthereon, a passage in the dash open to the atmosphere at its up perextremity and leadin to the fan housing, and means to contro the flow ofair in the passage.

2. As an article of manufacture, a unitary vehicle dash formed with adouble wall open at the top to the atmosphere and open at the bottom,louvres formed in the opening at the top to control the influx of air,means mounted on the dash to control said louvres, and means to connectthe bottom with coolin means.

fhis specification signed this 17th day of December A. Dr 1924.

ERVING R. GURNEY.

eating with the atmosphere at a point where the alr is comparativelyfree from foreign matter and conductin such relatively clear air to theinlet or fan ousing. In the illustrated embodiment such an inlet duct isshown as incorporated in the front wall of the dash although it will beapparent that an independent duct 111i ht be provided for this assage.Rearward y of the front wall a o the dash there is formed a second walla to form an air space or passage a communicating at its lowermostportion direct- 1 into the upper part of the fan housing through a slota and through openings a" upon either side of the propeller shaft intoan annular chamber a" surrounding the propeller shaft and communicatingwith the air inlet f of the fan housing.

The passage a is open 1n the uppermost part thereof to the atmospherethrough a series of air entrances a disposed about the top of the dash.Each of the alr entrances may be adapted to be controlled by a plurahtyof louvres z' capable of ad ustment from the dash. In the preferredembodiment some or all of the shutters may be carried upon whatconstitutes one arm of levers z" pivotally mounted in the top of thedash and connected to a rod 2' which may be drawn rearwardly to causethe opening of the shutters by turning a nut i upon the threaded endthereof. A spring a" may be rovided having a tendency to constantly drawthe rod forwardly and close the louvres.

At the rear edge the dash may be formed with a groove a for thereception of a cushion of yielding non-metallic material j upon whichthe body 70 rests as in the prior application.

Patent No. 1,633,093.

numbered patent re By the provision of a double walled dash a live airspace is afforded between the interior of the body and the cushion whichserves to insulate the interior from the engine space and prevent thepassage of heat therebetween to the added comfort of the operator andpassengers in the vehicle. By opening the passage to the atmosphere inthe uppermost part of the dash and substantially closing the lowermostpart against the admission of air relatively clear air is taken in tothe fan.

Variougmodifications may be made in the shape and location of the airintake passage communicating with the fan housing as well as in themanner of controllin the admission of air thereto and no limltation isintended by the foregoing description or illustrations except asindicated in the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In a motor "ehicle, the combination with the radiator and fan havinga housing, a. unitary dash, means mounting the main brace of theradiator thereon, a passage in the dash open to the atmosphere at itsupper extremity and leadin to the fan housing, and means to contro theflow of air in the passage.

2. As an article of manufacture, a unitary vehicle dash formed with adouble wall open at the top to the atmosphere and open at the bottom,louvres formed in the opening at the top to control the influx of air,means mounted on the dash to control said louvres, and means to connectthe bottom with coolin means.

lhis specification signed this 17th day of December A. Dr 1924.

ERVING R. GURNEY.

Certificate of Correction.

Granted June 21, 1927.10

printed specification of the aboveuiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 65, claim 1, for the word brace read ody; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this18th day of October, A. D. 1927.

[sun] M. J. MOORE, Actmg C'ommz'ssioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,633,093. Grant/ed June 21, 1921 to ERVING R. GURNE Y.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the abovenumbered patent re uiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 65, claim 1, for the word brace read %ody; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of October, A. D. 1927.

we M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

